Fishy Dinner

[Pearty]

Out of curiosity, is a scampi and scampi or is it just a scampi when its on your plate!  The discussion or should i say argument going on here is one person says its a large prawn another says its a Norweigen lobster and another says its just a scampi!  I know I can rely on your lot out there to help!

[chazza]

As far as I know scampi is a dish made of shrimp tails, although some places use lobster instead as a cheaper option

[Loosehead]

It's a prawn in breadcrumbs.

[Gilli]

I think that large-ish crustaceans, like scampi, prawns, lobster etc., do get confusing sometimes (on menus for example), because the same creature is so often called something different depending on which country you come from and/or happen to be dining in !

For example, Americans tend to call what Brits usually recognise as a prawn, "shrimp", whereas a shrimp to the average Brit is a tiny brown creature as opposed to a larger plumper pink one.

Langoustines are often also described as Dublin Bay prawns, though, to my eye at least they look like very small lobsters.

The word scampi itself is Italian, and means quite simply "shrimp" - but of course, to me, scampi is far from the little, oft-potted creature referred to previously.

I've also heard langoustines described as Norweigen lobster, so am thinking that this is where "scampi" comes from. I'm almost certain there isn't a creature called a scampi. Interestingly if you do a Google image search you just get a load of breaded fish & a fair few dogs come up !

[ursula62]

actually a single "scampi" is a scampo. Scampi is plural.

[silly moo]

Apparently shrimp become prawns to a US chef when the 'count' (how many per pound I think) becomes 50.
Figures may not be right BUT the general idea is what I was told recently at a cookery demonstration.

[shaz-rla]

and I thought scampi was made of monkfish ...

[Gilli]

I'm pretty sure it isn't Shaz :) ...... aside from anything I think monkfish is too expensive.

Whatever little prawny/lobster-like thing scampi does come from, the best scampi is made from "whole tails" (... though of what, we're not quite sure !!).

The worst scampi - probably the sort you get in a dodgy fish and chip shop - is made from minced up who-knows-what, as opposed to the tails.

[shaz-rla]

You are dead right Gilli, just had to have a quick look at scampi under a search engine and I was very surprised to find the right answer. I stand corrected ;0

[delilahcat]

Pearty, I would say that your friends are ALL correct! The delicacy in question is called Dublin Bay Prawns, Scampi, Langoustines or Norwegian Lobster, depending on what part of the world you're in or on how impressive the restaurant menu wants them to sound!